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Stag
Beetle
905/16/2008) Dorcus Brevis or Dorcus parallelus???
Hey bugman,
I found this small beetle (about half an inch long or so)
under a rotting log at the edge of the woods behind our house
here in Seymour, Tennessee. I know its a stag beetle
in the genus Dorcus, but would love to know which of the two
Dorcus species found in the US it is. anyway i hope you enjoy
the photo. any help would be appreciated. Thanks again
for one of my favorite websites.
Michael D.
Hi Michael,
We would love to be able to provide you with an exact species,
but that level of taxonomy is way beyone our capabilities.
If Eric Eaton and BugGuide can't do it, we are not going to
be much help. We noticed you have already posted your image
to BugGuide,
and we hope that you will get some results. BugGuide is the
best source for accurate and obscure identifications of North
American insects. BugGuide is the serious brother of insect
identification websites, and we are just the smart mouthed,
brash and sassy sibling. We are rotating your image 90 degrees
clockwise since it fits our site better that way.
Glowworms
(05/16/2008) Glow Worms!
I was walking through my front yard in the Santa Monica Mountains
in Southern California last night and wondered why there was
a glowing LED on the ground. Upon closer inspection I found
two glow worms. One blinked out right away upon
being disturbed, but the other kept right on glowing.
I've lived in California for 33 years and have never seen
any bioluminescence. This was an exciting first. Just thought
I would share my find. All the best,
Sean
Hi Sean,
Though your image is a bit blurry, it is wonderful to see
the glow as well as the Glowworms.
Ragweed Leaf Beetle
(05/15/2008) Ladybug?
Hi, I checked out your site and found pictures of a Striped
Ladybird Beetle and thought the ones I snapped
of this bug were very similar, but the head seems to be different.
The colors are the same even if the stripe pattern is a little
different. Is this the same bug?
Shirley
Houston Texas
Hi Shirley,
What a wonderful image of a Ragweed
Leaf Beetle, Zygogramma suturalis.
Rosemary
Leaf Beetle
(05/12/2008) What is this little beauty ??
Hi there
I noticed this little guy on my lavender plant here in London,
never seen anything like this before - assumed it was an exotic
ladybug but not found anything that looks like this on the
net. Could you shed any light ? An almost metallic shine in
green/silver with striking thin red stripes. A pic is attached..
Here's hoping ! Thanks
s
Hi S,
The Rosemary Leaf Beetle, Chrysolina americana, is a Mediterranian
species that feeds on rosemary and lavender. The use of these
plants in English gardens has resulted in the Rosemary Leaf
Beetle expanding its range. According to the Royal
Horticural Society website, it has become an established
pest in England.
Another
Bug of the Month: May 2008
Common
Calosoma deserves a better name: Desert Searcher perhaps!!!
(05/12/2008) Big Black Beetle in Baja
A few weeks ago, Baja Norte, that area of Baja (Mexico) from
Tijuana south to Ensenada, was invaded by a plague of big
black beetles. We’ve lived here for a few years
and hadn’t seen them before. They were preceeded
by hot dry Santa Ana winds blowing in from the eastern desert-y
areas, so they may have come via air (some think they can
fly, although I haven’t seen that, and there have been
a LOT of them around to observe). They are cannibals.
They are bold, and they seem to have some desire to come into
the house, where they eventually end up in the bathroom, although
not in tubs/showers/toilets per se. A few have even
ended up in the sack with us – ewww! They don’t
seem much interested in eating our plants. The one in
my pictures is on the smallish side; others have been as much
as 1⁄4 inch longer. Can you tell me what it is,
and something about it? Thanks!
We originally replied that your beetle is a Caterpillar
Hunter in the genus Calosoma. Out of pride, we posted our
own photo that day as we found two individuals in our own
Mt Washington, Los Angeles garden. Then other reports began
to pour in from Southern California. We were having difficulty
identifying the species, and BugGuide
did not provide an answer based on its posted Calosoma species.
We found our answer in Charles Hogue's awesome book: Insects
of the Los Angeles Basin. Hogue identifies Calosoma semilaeve
as the Common Calosoma, though the species not being represented
on BugGuide makes the use of common seem a bit odd. We would
love to dub this species the Desert Searcher. Here is what
Charles Hogue writes about Calosoma semilaeve: "During the
spring this beetle may be so common as to constitute a pest.
The adults are large (about 1 in., or 25 mm, long) and run
free during the day rather than being nocturnal and confined
to burrows or cavities under objects on the ground, as are
most ground beetles. The Common Calosoma sometimes enters
homes and, when disturbed, emits a disagreeable chemical that
smells something like burnt rubber or electrical insulation.
Because of its size, black color, and activeness, it is sometimes
mistaken for the Oriental Cockroach. Wireworms and caterpillars,
especially cutworms, are the favorite prey of both adults
and larvae. Consequently, the species is very beneficial to
the gardener." Hogue rocks!!! Because this is apparently an
"outbreak" year, and because this species feasts on garden
pests, we are offically proclaiming it the "Honorary Secondary
Bug of the Month for May" and posting it along with the White
Lined Sphinx.
Comment:
(05/15/2008) Bug of the month - Calosoma
Hi WTB staff, I have encountered many of these new determined
beetles in my San diego, California backyard. And yes they
do indeed fly. I have seen them walk across my yard, then
get to the patio, then fly. They are also aggressive meat
eaters. I found a dead bird in my back yard, only to find
one of these beetles ravenously cutting away feathers and
meat. I'm just glad their only 2 inches long.Thanks
Jeff
Caterpillar
Hunter
(05/11/2008)
While working in the yard at our Mt Washington, Los Angeles
offices, we saw not one but two of the Calosoma species, Caterpillar
Hunters. We released both into the vegetable patch hoping
they would earn their keep by devouring the Geometrid Caterpillars
that are chewing our beet greens, chard and other leafy greens.
When handled, the Caterpillar Hunters released a not entirely
unpleasant odor. We believe this is Calosoma semilaeve based
on Charles Hogue's wonderful book, Insects of the Los Angeles
Basin.
Mating Iron Cross Blister Beetles
(05/11/2008) iron cross blister beetles -- mating on cactus
Hi:
Thanks for helping me identify my bug -- your site is great.
I thought you might enjoy the picture of two iron-cross blister
beetles ( Tegrodera latecincta ) mating on a cactus -- it
all looks a bit precarious! The cactus is a local "hedgehog
cactus" ( Echinocereus sp. ). My yard was invaded
by these bugs over the past couple of days; I've lived here
6 years and never seen them before. Best,
Jake
NW Tucson, AZ
Mid May 2008
Hi Jake,
Your photo of Iron Cross Blister Beetles mating is quite stunning.
Cottonwood Borer
(05/09/2008) Here's a beauty for you.
Found this pretty beetle on the garden hose rack at my house.
It was so big and bold. It is also a good model.....who sat
for several pictures. Enjoy!
Pamela
League City, TX
Hi Pamela,
We have just spent the last two hours playing "catch-up" posting
images that were sent yesterday, and we really need to do
other things today. We could not resist the temptation to
post just one more though. Your photo appeals to us on so
many levels. The Cottonwood Borer, Plectrodera scalator, is
truly a regal insect that is not easily confused with any
other. We also love the fact that it was photographed on a
garden hose. Our favorite photos tend to be the kind that
would never find their way into legitimate entomological books
because they are slightly quirky. Thanks for your beautiful
submission of a beautiful beetle.
Cockchafer from UK is edible
(05/09/2008) made me late to work today
Brown wings underneath. I'm in Eversly, UK on business I threw
it outside after taking a couple of pics. What was it?
We have to confess that posting letters to our site has
made us late for work on more than one occasion. Glad to hear
it has the same effect on our readership. This is a Cockchafer,
also known as a Billy Witch. Read more on Wikipedia.
Edibility Update: (05/12/2008) Cockchafers:
Totally Edible
Greetings Daniel,
Hope things are good with you. Cockchafers are one of the
few European insects with a history of consumption -- both
the grubs and the adults. This is from the classic "Why Not
Eat Insects?" published in 1885 by Vincent Holt: Literally
tooth and nail we ought to battle with this enemy, for in
both its stages it is a most dainty morsel for the table.
. . . Again I endorse from personal experience. Try them
as I have; they are delicious. Cockchafers are not only common,
but of a most serviceable size and plumpness, while their
grubs are, when full grown, at least two inches in length,
and fat in proportion . . . . What a godsend to housekeepers
to discover a new entre to vary the monotony of the present
round! . . . Here then, mistresses, who thirst to place new
and dainty dishes before your guests, what better could you
have than 'Curried Maychafers' - , if you want a more mysterious
title, 'Larvae Melolonthae a la Grugru?'
Dave
www.slshrimp.com
Checkered Beetle
(05/09/2008) Insect identification
Hey, sorry to bother you, but I was trying to figure out what
type of insect this is and haven't been having a lot of luck
figuring it out. I'm doing a series of insect photos
as my blog theme this week, and wanted to use this image for
tomorrow's entry.Any help would be greatly appreciated. Best,
Mike Thompson
Mike
Thompson Photography & Design
Orinda CA
Hi Mike,
This is a Checkered Beetle in the family Cleridae, probably
the genus Trichodes as pictured on BugGuide.
We are not certain of the species, but perhaps Eric Eaton
can assist with that.
Black
Bladder-bodied Meloid
(05/07/2008) a picture for you
Hi
Do you have any idea what this pretty little devil is? I
live in Southern New Mexico, see these in the desert quite
a bit but can't seem to find them in a guide. The colors
are amazing, shift from green to blue to purple in the light.
Usually pretty good at identifying bugs, but this one
has me stumped. Thanks
Jaymie Williamson
Hi Jaymie,
The Black Bladder-bodied Meloid, Cysteodemus wislizeni, is
a Blister Beetle in the genus known as Desert Spider Beetles.
You now have the common species name, the genus name and the
family name of this fascinating beetle. It ranges from Texas
to Arizona.
Fiery Searcher
(05/06/2008) Oklahoma Beetle
Hello there,
My boyfriend caught a beetle last night and doesn't know what
it is. It was found in Norman, Oklahoma.
This is a species of Caterpillar Hunter known as the Fiery
Searcher, Calosoma scrutator.
Caterpillar
Hunter Larva
(05/06/2008) What's this bug?
Hi Bugman!!
We love your website!! Anytime we want to know what creepy
crawly is crawling around, we seem to find it on your site.
We are having a hard time finding out what this is.... I thought
it might be a Hellgrammite, but our bug doesn't have enough
legs and we don't live anywhere near water. It crawls
kind of like a catapeiler, but has pinchers. It's like a morph
of some kind of millipede or something. Anyway, we live
in the high desert in California and we have had a bit more
rain than normal this season. We have butterflies galore and
with the butterflies came these bugs. I have never seen them
before. They are only out in the day. I looked everywhere
to take a picture at 8:30 pm and was amazed to find only one
straggler in our garage. They are everywhere in the day, especially
climbing up the walls outside. I will try and send a better
picture of one from the daylight. This one seems small compared
to the others I have seen. Anyway, I'm sure you know what
this is and we are curious to know. Thanks for all your help
and for putting together a great and informative website!!!!
The Kibbe's
Dear Kibbe Family,
You might not think to try to identify this Caterpillar Hunter
on our beetle pages, but it is a beetle larva. Caterpillar
Hunters in the genus Calosoma undergo complete metamorphosis,
and the larva look nothing like the adult, but unlike many
insects that undergo complete metamorphosis, the larva and
adult both have the same diet. They eagerly consume any caterpillars
they encounter, which makes them a valuable natural control
to caterpillar overpopulation.
African
Rove Beetle: AKA Creechie or Acid Bug
(05/06/2008) What's this bug?
Good day
Do you have any further information on this bug? It is known
in Angola as an Acid Bug and apparently it does something
similar to the Bombardier Beetle and can cause some burns
if you squash one on your skin. Sorry for the poor quality
on the photo. Thanks & Regards
Bob Coughlan
Cabinda, Angola
Hi Bob,
In January 2007, we received a letter regarding this genus
of Rove Beetles from Camaroon. It is known as the Creechie
in Camaroon, but we also like Acid Bug from Angola. It is
in the genus Paederus, and we found a website
with images and information on the Contact Dermatitis it can
cause. |
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